Eliminating fat from your daily diet is almost as bad as eating only fat food. Many people think fat is just bad for the body, but it’s not true. Fat does do your body some good, since it is a necessary nutrient. It is indispensable, however, to know which kind of fat we should eat and in which quantity. Fatty acids are essential for the body and they are provided by fat. Using it, the organism produces molecules which are needed for your organs to function properly. Moreover, fat acts as a protection around the body, insulating it.

Eating vitamins without ingesting any kind of fat is worthless, since vitamins A, D, E and K cannot be absorbed into the body without fat. It also offers a concentrated source of energy, protecting internal organs from shocking against each other. Insulation against extreme temperature conditions and emergency fuel supply in times of illness are also some good properties of fat.

Fats can be divided into three different categories, and it is important to know which food contains each fat. Fats are categorized based on the amount of hydrogen each one carries. They can be saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Saturated fat is all animal fats (meat, dairy products and eggs, besides coconut oil). As they are the highest in cholesterol, they are considered the least healthy fat, while polyunsaturated fats are the healthiest. Corn oil, soy, fish, safflower and sunflower oils have polyunsaturated fats.

The secret is to balance good and bad fat properly. Whereas eating too much fat can lead to harmful consequences, no fat at all is also unhealthy. The key to success is moderation.